A pretty wide range. I did binge a few shows at the beginning of the pandemic and some were better than others. Ideally I’d be interested in very good crime or something with a slight supernatural slant (no goblins or other fantasy elements, but maybe telepathy or invisibility something). My favourite shows are Breaking Bad & Hannibal (more or less on the same level to me), but other than that, I liked The Sopranos and thought House of Cards started off well and then got tedious. I’m considering making a start on Mr. Robot, but something is stopping me.
Ok, if you'll allow me the lengthy post, here are a bunch of recs for crime-ish TV shows...
Fargo - Probably the best thing I'm watching right now. Showrunner Noah Hawley perfectly encapsulates the tone and vibe of the Coens as he follows up various stories, characters, and timelines around the US Midwest. It manages to be thrilling and funny at the same time. It has featured stars like Billy Bob Thornton, Colin Hanks, Patrick Wilson, Martin Freeman, Ewan McGregor, Shea Whigham, Carrie Coon, Chris Rock, and many more. I can't recommend it enough.
It's on Hulu.
Bosch - This might look like a generic police procedural, but it's not. It's a very serious, very mature show about cops, most notably the titular one, played perfectly by Titus Welliver. First season follows a serial killer, second season has noir-ish elements, and from the third season forward, it sorta branches out a-la
The Wire to focus on different facets of political and police corruption without losing the focus on the main character. It also manages to integrate his personal life and his relationship with his daughter quite well. I'm a huge fan.
It's on Prime.
Goliath - This one's probably not as focused and well done as the above, but it's still a lot of fun. It follows a washed-up lawyer (Billy Bob Thornton again!) as he takes cases against big corporations (hence the title, David vs. Goliath). It's not procedural since each case takes the whole season while also delving into Billy's personal life and frustrations, and Thornton owns it. First season was pretty good, second season was not bad but took a bit of a dip, and third season was a bit crazy-ish. William Hurt and Dennis Quaid guest star through some of the seasons.
It's also on Prime.
Mad Dogs - This one might be an easier sell cause it was cancelled after one season. The show follows four middle-aged friends that travel to Belize to celebrate the retirement of another friend, only to find themselves ensnared in a mess of crime, drug, murder, and whatnot. Starts a bit wacky and offbeat, but slowly shifts into a more dark and serious drama. Great performances by Ben Chaplin, Steve Zahn, Michael Imperioli, and Romany Malco.
It's also on Prime
And a bunch of recs for more "supernatural"-ish TV shows...
The Terror - Follows a fictionalized account of the events surrounding the disappearance of the HMS Terror, an expedition that was trying to reach the Arctic. It is one of the most atmospheric and dread-inducing shows I've seen recently, but it also has some great performances from Jared Harris, Tobias Menzies, and Ciaran Hinds. It's an anthology show, so you can just watch season 1. Season 2 follows another story and I haven't seen it.
It's on Hulu
Fortitude - Set in a fictional Norwegian town, it starts with the investigation of a violent murder, which ends up being tied with a series of possibly supernatural events. Stanley Tucci stars as the Inspector sent from London to investigate and he's superb, but then Richard Dormer picks up as the sheriff of the small town and he's excellent as well. It's the kind of show where, for better or worse, you never know what's gonna happen next. This one's not streaming free, which is why I still haven't watched the third and final season, but it's available for rental on Amazon, Apple TV, and VUDU.
Britannia - It follows a series of characters and groups involved in the Roman invasion of Britain, back in the times of the Roman Empire. Great production values and performances, and a very trippy and mystical atmosphere to it. I still haven't caught up with season 2, but I enjoyed the first one quite a bit.
It's on Prime
Manhattan - Not really supernatural, but I think it fits this vibe more than it fits the crime-ish one above. It follows a fictionalized account of the developments of the Manhattan Project back in the early 1940s, as the egos and frustrations of those involved clash with the historical importance of the project. It features some actors/actresses that got big after this, like Rachel Brosnahan (before
Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and David Harbour (before
Stranger Things), but John Benjamin Hickey was probably the actor I found more interesting. Daniel Stern, Peter Stormare, William Peterson, and Richard Schiff also have some solid recurring guest roles.
It's on Hulu
Finally, if you haven't seen or haven't read anything about the Korean show
Kingdom, on Netflix, then check it out. It might surprise you.
I had to restrain myself to throw a couple more recommendations, but I didn't want to overwhelm you. I think I failed anyway.